The topic of dragon iconography in medieval
in yerevan, Armenia, as well as to the curator Dr
Islamic art was suggested to me for my doctoral
Lilith Zakarian, for their generous help
thesis by my Doktorvater Professor Claus-Peter
I am further indebted to Professor Dr Peter
Haase in 1999 I am immensely grateful to him
Zieme of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akade-
for having given me the opportunity to work on
mie der Wissenschaften for reading the text and
the tremendous and awe-inspiring yet, at the
making valuable comments and suggestions
same time, exceedingly challenging topic that
I owe particular thanks to my editors, espe-
now forms the basis for this book I especially
cially Ms Kathy van Vliet-Leigh and Ms Ellen
valued his continued support and advice while
Girmscheid, for inviting me to submit my text
he was extremely busy as director of the Museum
for publication in this series and for their form-
for Islamic Art in Berlin
ative guidance, patience and support through-
During the years in which I was engaged in
out the publication process For comments and
this research, I regularly worked on the prepara-
criticisms on earlier versions of this work I also
tion of curatorial documentation for the al-Sabāh
thank the anonymous readers for Brill For their
Collection, Kuwait National Museum, in Kuwait
kind assistance in obtaining images and line
This allowed me to gain an insight into one of
drawings, grateful thanks are moreover due
the most outstanding col ections of Islamic works
to Prof James Allan, Ms Katherine Baker, Dr
of art, among whose treasures are many objects
Wolfgang Baum, Dr Sheila Canby, Ms Maria
bearing revealing manifestations of the dragon I
Teresa Fortuna Canivet, Dr Stefano Carboni,
would like to express my gratitude to His High-
Prof Dr Falko Daim, Dr Catherine Depierraz,
ness Shaykh Nasser Sabāh al-Ahmed al-Sabāh and
Mr Alfred Diwersy, Dr Joachim Gierlichs,
his wife Her Highness Shaykha Hussah Sabāh al-
Prof Dr Claus-Peter Haase, Dr Navina Haider,
Salem al-Sabāh for generously granting me per-
Mr Isao Kurita, Dr Sophie Makariou, Ms Armine
mission to publish several objects from their
Melkonyan, Dr Nahla Nassar, Rev Dr Vrej
collection I am much indebted to the curators
Nersessian, Mr Harvey B Plotnick, Dr Christoph
of the collection, Manuel Keene and Sue Kaoukji,
Rauch, Prof Dr Scott Redford, Prof Dr Mehmet
for their long-standing encouragement and help
Öz, Prof Dr yasser Tabbaa, Dr Hratschja
My thanks also extend to my colleagues at the
Tamrasjan, Dr Nicole Thierry, Dr Jean Michel
Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah
Thierry, Dr Lilith Zakarian I am particularly
It took ten years to complete this vast research
indebted to Prof Dr Piotrovsky, Ms Elena
project and put it into writing The text has been
Obuhovich and Prof Dr Alexander Nikitin for
read with keen intelligence and an extraordinary
their tremendous help
editorial eye by Jill Tilden who moreover was a
Above all, my deep gratitude is due to Profes-
valued source of intellectual support and encour-
sor Robert Hil enbrand, Professor Emeritus of the
agement throughout these years I feel profoundly
University of Edinburgh, for his inspired vision
grateful for the privilege of her friendship
and open-hearted generosity of spirit that I will
In addition, I wish to thank Professor Eberhard
not forget His constructive guidance was instru-
König of the Free University of Berlin, second
mental in allowing this work to be successfully
reader of my thesis, for his sympathetic reading
delivered from the dragon’s maw
of my interpretations and his continuous gener-
All errors and inadequacies that remain are, of
ous support
course, to be attributed to me alone
Reverend Dr Vrej Nersessian of the British
Finally, immeasurable thanks are due to my
Library, London, read the sections concerning
parents, Heidi and Michael Kuehn, who gener-
Armenian art, sharing with me some of his pro-
ously helped me emotionally and financially to
found knowledge on Armenian art and offering
complete this project Their manifold support and
additional valuable suggestions For this I am
tolerance have sustained me throughout For all
extremely grateful My thanks also go to Dr
these reasons, the book is dedicated to them as a
Hratschja Tamrasjan, Director of the Matenadaran
small token of my thanks
xiv
introduction